Here are my little celebrations:
- my oldest son is doing great on the Freshman basketball team!
- temperatures have risen!
- I'm going to The Novel Experience reader/writer conference in Atlanta (Mar 28-30) - and so is Elizabeth Seckman! A few others are working it out, maybe you can too! It's a huge signing party!
- And Saturday (Feb 1!) I'm in the Author Spotlight at Kimberly Afe's blog! Yay! She gave me some good questions. I'd love to see you there.
- I've spent the night in a castle in Scotland
- I've ridden in a romantic gondola in Venice
- I've walked my legs off in the Acropolis in Athens
As a special bonus, Jamie is meeting Conner and Olga at Dairy Treat. What better way to celebrate their journey than with an ice cream cone! (And Tara is the commentating fly on the wall)
J. Conner, we only got to know you a little bit in the first half of Olga’s journey. So for those who haven’t met you yet, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
C. Yo. My name’s Conner. I was killed by a lightning strike/hypothermia combo, then spent over a year in the Underworld until I got to see Olga again. I changed a lot while I was there – for the better, I think. But recently, not so much. I’m not sure what’s going on with me. *licks ice cream cone while I swoon, until Olga elbows me in the ribs*
(I can't imagine being stuck in the Underworld! And hey, he's hot! Glad he came back)
O. No worries, I’m working on a way to help you. *gives Conner a one-armed hug*
(I bet you are!)
J. About this past summer though, from the moment both of you found out the other was in the Underworld, things drastically changed. Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you would have done differently?
O. It’s better to know the truth about things than live a lie—
C. Which is what I’d been doing my whole life by hiding my true feelings for Olga—
O. And what I did when I kept the truth from you this past summer. I regret doing that.
C. And I regret my reaction to hearing the truth the first time. You’ve been my best friend since kindergarten. I shouldn’t have reacted that way.
(Live and learn, kiddos! Good for you!)
J. I agree with that assessment, but don’t beat yourself up. Nobody’s perfect, not even Olga with her freakishly high IQ.
(Listen to Jamie!)
C. She’s pretty close to perfect though, not to mention insanely hot.
O. *blushes* He says that to all the girls.
C. But with you, I actually mean it.
(I think we'll need some proof to back that up, I've heard those lines before too…)
J. Aww. Now Olga, I know you’d planned on telling Conner your real feelings for him the night of Junior Prom. Conner, before you died, had you ever planned to tell Olga you were in love with her?
C. Looking back, I’ve always loved Olga—she’s my best friend; the only person I told all my secrets to, who could make me laugh when I was pissed, who I played all my new songs for first. She completely understood me. But I think I was just too immature before the lightning strike, and I couldn’t really see with my ‘friend’ lenses on. She’s definitely the most beautiful person I know, inside and out. It just sucks it took me dying to realize it.
(Lucky you got to come back, dude!)
J. Sadly, a lot of people don’t realize the truth until it’s too late. Olga, describe Conner in 3 words.
O. Confident, playful, and passionate.
J.*coughs the word ‘sexy’* Okay Conner, your turn!
(*cough* seconded)
C. Driven, caring, and sexy *smirks at Olga*
J. After everything that happened in the Underworld, at Limbo and Juvie and afterward, was there ever a time you lost hope?
C. Yeah, I lost hope. I couldn’t believe how royally I screwed up. Seeing Olga again was the only thing I had to hang onto.
O. I lost hope as soon as I showed up to the estate and saw Sam.
J. Oh, yes, Sam. You were introduced to some colorful new characters this past summer, and he’s at the top of the list. What would you say is the bravest thing you’ve done?
O. I broke every rule in the spirit guide handbook to go after Conner. I made a deal with Sam, which was also the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, but it also took me being brave, I guess. Then I fought off some problematic demons.
(There's always a catch in every deal!)
C. I can’t top that one. Olga is by far the bravest person I know. As for me, after thirteen years, I finally told Olga I was in love with her.
J. Again, awwww! For those who have yet to embark upon this journey with you *points to Olga, then Conner* and Nate *Conner glares at me* What? Nate is part of this journey, whether you like it or not, Conner. Olga, tell us what can people expect?
O. Expect a complicated road filled with frustrations and surprising revelations, twists, and turns. Expect romance. Expect heartache and tears. Expect laughs. Because even though Nate and I spend our summer in the Underworld, we have some really fun moments.
C. Hey, we have some fun moments together, too!
O. Of course, that was implied since you’re here with me now. And if we didn’t end up having some fun moments together, then this whole summer in the Underworld would’ve been a complete waste of time.
C. Word. You ready to head out? We have some peeps waiting for us.
J. Yeah, we’re all done here. Thanks for meeting with us today! You two take care of each other.
(Yeah. Such a cute couple! Very mature - but they've been through a ton!)
Thanks, Jamie for sharing that interview! It was fun! And now, here's some info about 18 Truths...
C. Yo. My name’s Conner. I was killed by a lightning strike/hypothermia combo, then spent over a year in the Underworld until I got to see Olga again. I changed a lot while I was there – for the better, I think. But recently, not so much. I’m not sure what’s going on with me. *licks ice cream cone while I swoon, until Olga elbows me in the ribs*
(I can't imagine being stuck in the Underworld! And hey, he's hot! Glad he came back)
O. No worries, I’m working on a way to help you. *gives Conner a one-armed hug*
(I bet you are!)
J. About this past summer though, from the moment both of you found out the other was in the Underworld, things drastically changed. Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you would have done differently?
O. It’s better to know the truth about things than live a lie—
C. Which is what I’d been doing my whole life by hiding my true feelings for Olga—
O. And what I did when I kept the truth from you this past summer. I regret doing that.
C. And I regret my reaction to hearing the truth the first time. You’ve been my best friend since kindergarten. I shouldn’t have reacted that way.
(Live and learn, kiddos! Good for you!)
J. I agree with that assessment, but don’t beat yourself up. Nobody’s perfect, not even Olga with her freakishly high IQ.
(Listen to Jamie!)
C. She’s pretty close to perfect though, not to mention insanely hot.
O. *blushes* He says that to all the girls.
C. But with you, I actually mean it.
(I think we'll need some proof to back that up, I've heard those lines before too…)
J. Aww. Now Olga, I know you’d planned on telling Conner your real feelings for him the night of Junior Prom. Conner, before you died, had you ever planned to tell Olga you were in love with her?
C. Looking back, I’ve always loved Olga—she’s my best friend; the only person I told all my secrets to, who could make me laugh when I was pissed, who I played all my new songs for first. She completely understood me. But I think I was just too immature before the lightning strike, and I couldn’t really see with my ‘friend’ lenses on. She’s definitely the most beautiful person I know, inside and out. It just sucks it took me dying to realize it.
(Lucky you got to come back, dude!)
J. Sadly, a lot of people don’t realize the truth until it’s too late. Olga, describe Conner in 3 words.
O. Confident, playful, and passionate.
J.*coughs the word ‘sexy’* Okay Conner, your turn!
(*cough* seconded)
C. Driven, caring, and sexy *smirks at Olga*
J. After everything that happened in the Underworld, at Limbo and Juvie and afterward, was there ever a time you lost hope?
C. Yeah, I lost hope. I couldn’t believe how royally I screwed up. Seeing Olga again was the only thing I had to hang onto.
O. I lost hope as soon as I showed up to the estate and saw Sam.
J. Oh, yes, Sam. You were introduced to some colorful new characters this past summer, and he’s at the top of the list. What would you say is the bravest thing you’ve done?
O. I broke every rule in the spirit guide handbook to go after Conner. I made a deal with Sam, which was also the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, but it also took me being brave, I guess. Then I fought off some problematic demons.
(There's always a catch in every deal!)
C. I can’t top that one. Olga is by far the bravest person I know. As for me, after thirteen years, I finally told Olga I was in love with her.
J. Again, awwww! For those who have yet to embark upon this journey with you *points to Olga, then Conner* and Nate *Conner glares at me* What? Nate is part of this journey, whether you like it or not, Conner. Olga, tell us what can people expect?
O. Expect a complicated road filled with frustrations and surprising revelations, twists, and turns. Expect romance. Expect heartache and tears. Expect laughs. Because even though Nate and I spend our summer in the Underworld, we have some really fun moments.
C. Hey, we have some fun moments together, too!
O. Of course, that was implied since you’re here with me now. And if we didn’t end up having some fun moments together, then this whole summer in the Underworld would’ve been a complete waste of time.
C. Word. You ready to head out? We have some peeps waiting for us.
J. Yeah, we’re all done here. Thanks for meeting with us today! You two take care of each other.
(Yeah. Such a cute couple! Very mature - but they've been through a ton!)
Thanks, Jamie for sharing that interview! It was fun! And now, here's some info about 18 Truths...
Olga ended her senior year totally in love with Nate, enjoying their new romance and about to attend the university of her dreams. Now, she’s spending her summer in the weird subculture of the Underworld, with charmingly witty and powerful angels, and problematic demons, trying to rescue Connor, the best friend and secret crush she was unable to save during a freak accident.
But Nate is there too and has other things on his mind, mainly Grace. She’s their first assignment as joint spirit guides, and Olga’s feeling hurt and jealous. Nate's mysterious behavior has Olga questioning everything she believed about him and now she must decide whether to stick to their plan, or follow her heart.
Only one thing is certain: the chilling truths uncovered during her journey will leave no one untouched.
Jamie Ayres writes young adult love stories by night and teaches young adults as a middle school teacher by day. She lives in southwest Florida with her husband and two daughters. Her books include 18 Things and 18 Truths.
Jamie's links:
